Apparatus for washing automobiles



Sept. 10, 1963 G. E. DAMRow APPARATUS Foa WASHING AUTOMOBILES Filed 001.16, 1961 United States Patent O 3,103,3i2 APPARATUS FR WASHNG- AUTMGMLE George E. Damrow, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to The Ni-Arb Co., line., El Monte, Calif., a corporation of California Filed st. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,213 '7 Claims. (Cl. 239-135) This invention relates to an apparatus for washing automobiles, which apparatus provides a variable content jet stream for Washing action. While the invention is broadly applicable for its purpose, it has special utility for installations at gasoline service stations.

Service station operators have spare time which can be used for washing cars if a suitable apparatus for this purpose is available. The apparatus should require only a single operator and should be so eiiicient that the time required for washing a car is comparable to the time ordinarily required for carryingout the operation for refueling an automobile, along with the usual oil check, battery check and windshield service. ln addition, the apapratus should be of simple durable construction, should-not require anylspecial skill, and should be ready for use without notice and without standby cost.

This invention meets these requirements by providing a hand-operated gun for producing a high velocity jet stream and by providing a system of tanks and piping connected to the gun for Varying the character of the jet 1 Finally the jet stream may be changed to clear water for rinsing the car. A feature of the invention is that the Water or water mixture may be heated for any or all of these operations.

The hand-operated gun has a liquid inlet, a compressed air inlet, a chamber or passage for mixing the air and liquid, a nozzle for discharging the jet stream, and manual valve means for control of the jet stream. The ver# satility of the hand gun with respect to the content of the jet stream is provided by the associated piping and tank arrangement. v z

A pressurized water supply is connected to the liquid inlet of the hand gun by a rst passage means and, in the present embodiment of the invention, softened water is used with provision for heating the water when desired. Both a solvent tank and a liquid soap tank are connected to the first passage means to permit either grease-cutting solvent or soap or both to be mixed with the water at the operators choice. i

A source of compressed air is connected to the air inlet of the hand gun by a second passage means and a feature of Ithe invention is that the second passage means is con' nected both to the solvent tank and to the soap tank. This arrangement permits the compressed air to be used for creating pressiu'e in the two tanks to force their contents into the water stream in the iirst passage means.

vA further feature of the invention is the application of the venturi principle for the introduction of the solvent and the liquid soap into the stream of water. For this purpose two Venturi throats are provided in the rst passage means and two nozzles are directed downstream into l areasp Patented Sept. l0, 1963 solvent and the liquid soap into the stream of Water thatv is supplied to the hand-operated gun.

FlG. l shows a hand-operated gun, generally designated by numeral itl, which is of a Well-known construction and is distributed by Ni-Ar-b Co., Inc. in El Monte, Caliiornia.v The hand gun 10 has an inlet 12 to be-supplied with Water under pressure and has a second inlet 14 to be supplied with compressed air. The flow of the water and air through the gun is controlled by a pair of correspondingvalves 1. and 16 which dischargeuinto a pair of corresponding tubes i3 and Ztl. The two tubes 18 and 2li lead to a mixing chamber 22 which supplies the intermixed iluid to a nozzle 24. The hand gun has a pistol grip 25 and `an associated handle 26 which is adapted to open thetwo valves l5 and 16 simultaneously. n

iwateris supplied to the hand gun 10 by a pipe 28 which is connected to a suitable pressurizedy source such as the usual domestic Water supply. The pipe 28 may be directly connected Ito the Water inlet 12. of the hand gun but in the arrangement shown is connected through a valve 3u to an inlet 32 at the upper end of a Water softener tank 34. The' lower outlet port 35 of the water softener tank is connected' through a' valve 36 to a drain pipe 38 and is also connected tol what may be termed a first passage means for supplying the softened water to the hand gun it). As shown in FG. 1, this first passage means may comprise a pipe titll and a hose 4,1, the pipe being provided with-a check valve 42 and a cut off valve k44. The hose 4l connects the pipe Litl tothe water inlet 12 l oi the hand gun. v

The illustrated embodiment of therinvention provides means to heat the water stream that flows through the piped@ whenever such heating is desired by the operator.

For this purpose an Aelectric heater 45 is incorporated intoy the pipe 40, the heater being energizedV by 'apair of leads 46. A feature of the inventiony is that this heateralso serves as a mixing chamber.

In the arrangement shown in the drawing, a second tank f 4S to contain liquid soap is` mounted on legs 5t) adjacent the water softener tank 34 and a third tank 52 to contain a supply of solvent is mounted on legs 54 adjacent the liquid soap tank 43. The liquid soap tank has an upper port 55 which is connected to lill a pipe 56 that is provided tending pipe 66 may be provided with a check valve 68 and a cut-oil` valve 70. in the same manner the solvent water pipe 48 by means of an upwardly extending pipe 74, the pipe 74 being provided with a check valve 75 and a cut-ofi valve 7 6.

A feature of this embodiment of the invention is that each of the two pipes 66 and 74 connects with a corresponding venturi arrangement in the pipe tilt. As shown in FIG. 2 which shows structure at the upper end of the pipe 66, each of the venturi arrangements includes a Iventuri tube or nozzle 78 which points downstream inside the pipe 40 into a venturi throat 8d. The venturi nozzle '78 is shown as mounted in a bushing S2 in the upper end of the pipe 66 and the venturi throat 89 is a pipe end 84' which is of reduced internal diameter with the passage of the pipe end further reduced by the associated nozzle 7S. In a well known manner the local increase in velocity of iiow through the pipeline lil created by the venturi throat Stb results in a reduction of pressure which creates a pressure differential along the pipe 66 to promote ow of iluid from the pipe 66 through the nozzle 73 into the pipeline dit. l

Air is supplied to the inlet 1li of the hand gun Iii through a second passage means comprising a pipeline S5 and a hose 86, the pipeline being connected to a suitable source of compressed air. As heretofore stated, a feature of the invention is the concept of connecting the compressed air pipe 85 to the two tanks f1.8 and S2 to create pressure therein for urging liquid soap and solvent into the water pipeline 40.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the cornpressed air pipe S5 is connected through a cut-ofi valve 88 to a pipe 90 and the end of the pipe 96* is provided with a second cut-oii valve 92 which may be open to the atmosphere for a purging operation when desired. A pipe 94 branches from the pipe 9@ between the two valves 88 and 92 to connect with the till pipe 56 of the liquid soap tank 43. In like manner a second pipe 95 branches from the pipe 90 to the ll pipe 62 of the solvent tank 52.

The manner in which the invention serves its purpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description. With all of the pipe connections made to complete the installation of the apparatus, the valve 5S is opened temporarily for introducing liquid soap into the tank 45 and the valve 64 is opened temporarily for the introduction of solvent into the tank 52. Any suitable liquid f soap may be employed. The solvent may be a mixture including a detergent, the mixture being of a character for effectiveness in loosening and removing grease andk oil spots. During these lling operations the cut-oir valve 88 is closed to isolate the supply of compressed air from the two tanks 48 and S2. After `the filling operations are completed, the valve 88 is opened to admit compressed air to the upper ports of the two tanksi-S and S2. The valve 88 may then be closed to leave a charge of compressed air in each of the two tanks, or, if desired, the valve may be left opened to maintain lboth tanks under maximum air pressure.

With the both the liquid soap valve 7i? and lthe solvent valve 76 initially closed, the valve 76 is opened -for the rst operation which consists of applying solvent to the automobile that is to be washed. The operator then uses the hand gun 10 under control of the valve handle 26 to discharge a high velocity stream of water and solvent onto the automobile. In preparation for .the next step the solvent valve '76 is closed and the liquid soap valve 70 is opened. The operator then uses the hand gun 10 to direct a high velocity stream of soap and water onto the automobile to wash oi the grease and solvent. The operator may take time also to clean out the radiator grill with the jet stream. A feature of the invention is that the engine of the automobile as well as the body of the automobile may be cleaned by these two operations.

In preparation lfor the next step both'the liquid soap valve 7@ as well 4as the solvent valve 76 are closed to permit clear water =to be supplied to the hand gun lll. The electric heater may be energized to heat the water and it then the hand gun l@ is manipulated to rinse oi the automobile body with clear warm water. i

It usually takes about three .minutes for the solvent to act and the car body may be processed completely in about seven minutes. If the engine and radiator are also processed, the complete operation requires no more than ifteen minutes. Since the hand gun lil is relatively long and since the jet stream is discharged at high velocity, the operator can stand back from the automobile and thus avoid getting wet. The operation may he interrupted at any time when desirable, for example, to wait on a second customer.

My'description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

l. In an apparatus for washing automobiles, the combination of: a hand gun having a nozzle for projecting a stream of mixed iiuid, an air inlet in communication with the nozzle, a liquid inlet in communication with the nozzle, and a manual valve means; a water softener tank having an outlet and having an inlet for connection to a pressurized water supply; a rst passage means for conducting a stream of the softened water from said outlet of the tank to said liquid inlet of the hand gun; a liquid soap tank having an outlet connectedy to said passage means for adding soap to said stream of water; a solvent tank having an outlet connected to said passage means for adding solvent to said stream of water; and a second passage means for connection to a supply of compressed air, Said second passage means being connected to said liquid soap tank and to said solvent tank to force the soap and solvent into said stream of water and being also connected to said air inlet of the hand gun to mix air with said stream of water in the hand gun.

2. A combination as'v set forth in claim 1 which includes a heater for heating the iluid in sai-d iirst passage means downstream from the liquid soap and solvent tanks.

3. In an apparatus for washing automobiles, the combination of a hand gun having an air inlet, a liquid inlet, and a nozzle in communication with both inlets; a first passage means connected to said liquid inlet of the gun for connecting the gun with a pressurized water supply; a liquid soap tank having an upper port and having a lower outlet port connected to said passage means; a solvent tank having an upper port and having a lower outlet port connected to said passage means; and a second passage means connected to said air inlet of the gun for connecting the gun to a supply of compressed air, said second passage means being connected to said upper ports of the liquid soap tank and the solvent tank to force liquid soap and solvent into said rst passage means.

4. In an apparatus for `washing automobiles, the coml =bination of: a hand gun having an air inlet, a liquid inlet,

and a nozzle in communication with both inlets; a first passage means connected to said liquid inlet of the gun for connecting the gun with a pressurized water supply; a liquid soap tank having an upper port and a lower outlet; a solvent tank having an upper port and a lower outlet; two nozzles directed downstream in said first passage means and connectedto said outlets of the liquid soap tank and the solvent tank respectively; and a second passage means connected to said air inlet of the gun for connecting the gun to a supply of compressed air, said second passage means being connected to said upper ports of the liquid soap tank and solvent tank to force liquid soap and solvent into said rst passage means.

5. In an apparatus for washing automobiles, the combination of: a hand gun having an air inlet, a liquid inlet, and a nozzle in communication with yboth inlets; a irst passage means connected to said liquid inlet of the gun for connecting the gun with a pressurized water supply, said passage means having two venturi throats at points spaced apart longitudinally thereof; a liquid soap tank having an upper port and a lower outlet; a solvent tank having an upper port and a lower outlet; two nozzles directed downstream into said two venturi throats respectively, said nozzles being connected to said outlets of the liquid soap tank and solvent tank respectively; and a second passage means connected to said air inlet of the gun for connecting the gun to a supply of compressed air, said second passage means being connected to said upper ports of the liquid soap tank and solvent tank, respectively, to force liquid soap and solvent into said rst passage means.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 which includes a heater for heating the Huid in said rst passage means References Cited in the file of this patent rUNITED STATES PATENTS 557,878 'Pownall Apr. 7, 1896 1,198,036 Jackson Sept. 12, 1916 1,797,584 ONeill Mar. 24, 1931 2,461,766 Peeps Feb. 15, 1949 2,941,900 Schroder-Stranz June 21, 1960 

3. IN AN APPARATUS FOR WASHING AUTOMOBILES, THE COMBINATION OF: A HAND GUN HAVING AN AIR INLET, A LIQUID INLET, AND A NOZZLE IN COMMUNICATION WITH BOTH INLETS; A FIRST PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LIQUID INLET OF THE GUN FOR CONNECTING THE GUN WITH A PRESSURIZED WATER SUPPLY; A LIQUID SOAP TANK HAVING AN UPPER PORT AND HAVING A LOWER OUTLET PORT CONNECTED TO SAID PASSAGE MEANS; A SOLVENT TANK HAVING AN UPPER PORT AND HAVING A LOWER OUTLET PORT CONNECTED TO SAID PASSAGE MEANS; AND A SECOND PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID AIR INLET OF THE GUN FOR CONNECTING THE GUN TO A SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR, SAID SECOND PASSAGE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER PORTS OF THE LIQUID SOAP TANK AND THE SOLVENT TANK TO FORCE LIQUID SOAP AND SOLVENT INTO SAID FIRST PASSAGE MEANS. 